North American Lubricants (NAL) today announced a strategic partnership with Prestone Products Corporation to market their automotive and heavy-duty antifreeze/coolants and chemicals. NAL will now market Prestone antifreeze/coolants through their national distributor channel, as well as installed retail and national fleet customers nationwide. As a complement to their premium lubricants line, NAL will be offering Prestone’s Prime automotive line and Command heavy-duty antifreeze/coolants.

“The choice to work with the #1 name in antifreeze was an easy decision,” according to NAL President, Aaron Read. “Metals used in cooling system components are different than what they were 10 years ago. Technology advancements in corrosion inhibitors and a rainbow of OEM colors have made coolant choices confusing. Prestone provides our customers innovation, the highest quality antifreeze/coolant products on the market and decision simplicity.”

Paul Pfauser, NAL Vice President explains, “Prestone Command Nitrite Free ELC provides a one size fits all application for mixed fleet operators, something that was unheard of a few years ago. Teaming up with Prestone simplifies and consolidates our customers’ coolant options.” “North American Lubricants, with their national distribution network and the quality of their national sales team, makes an excellent partner for us to grow our brand with,” said Bryan Kosusnik, Prestone Division Manager. “We are very excited about the opportunity to work with NAL.”

About North American LubricantsHeadquartered in Scottsdale, AZ, North American Lubricants (NAL) serves customers in 48 states through a national distribution network with manufacturing assets across the U.S. NAL’s management team has over a century of combined experience in the lubricant industry. CLICK FOR MORE

About Prestone Products CorporationHeadquartered in Chicago, IL, Prestone is a leading manufacturer of high quality antifreeze/coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, windshield washer fluid and other vehicle maintenance products. Prestone’s antifreeze/coolant has protected vehicle cooling systems since 1927, through nearly nine decades of evolving engine operations and cooling system demands. The company operates globally, with approximately 500 employees and four manufacturing plants. CLICK FOR MORE

Keep Your Ear to the Rail – Part II

As reported in JobbersWorld last week, base oil suppliers, lubricant manufacturers, distributors, and others in the lubricant supply chain have been challenged over the past two months to ship and receive product by rail, specifically CSX Rail (the country’s third largest railroad). This is because CSX is currently restructuring to rationalize infrastructure and consolidate operations. And while this is taking place, a number of base oil suppliers, lubricant manufacturers and others in the value chain tell JobbersWorld that they are experiencing delays, inconsistency, unpredictability, and longer than expected transit times when shipping by CSX.

In looking deeper into this issue, JobbersWorld has learned that some of the challenges stemming from the CSX reorganization are a result of regional cuts in personnel. We are told that this is particularly troubling when the cuts impact the number of employees that receive cars in the CSX yard and set the rail cars up on storage tracks for receiving by local short line. Whereas some of the yards used to be staffed to handle 60-80 cars in a day for delivery to its customers; with the reductions in employees, CSX is now reportedly only moving 35 to as few as 15 cars a day. This results in significant delays and in one instance a lubricant supplier says they lost a sale due to such delays.

Also of concern is that CSX has reportedly reduced the number of “hump” tracks it operates. Hump tracks are those used for storage and lining up rail cars to be pulled. One lubricant blender says that whereas in the past CSX used to have 10 hump tracks available, it cut that number in half at a location critical to its transportation. This has caused backup of cars being received. As a result, rail cars are sitting in other yards until there is enough track space to bring them forward.

Another concern reported to JobbersWorld is that CSX has changed some of its shipping patterns. As a result, unexpected delays are experienced when a rail car loaded with base oil or lubricants is sent north before going south to its intended destination.

Interestingly, some in the lubricants business are looking into moving product by US-flag shipping for moves between the East Coast and the Gulf as an alternative that before this time was not competitive.

So once again, keep your ear to the rail, because if the challenges in rail transport continue, there is a good chance the higher transportation costs will be passed down the rail to lubricant marketers and ultimately, the consumer.

Doug Rathbun, Bureau Chief for the Illinois Department of Agriculture Bureau of Weights & Measures to Speak at the PQIA Summit

Today, the Petroleum Quality Institute of America announced that Doug Rathbun will present at the upcoming PQIA Lubricant Quality Summit in Cleveland, Ohio and participate on the panel to discuss what is being done and what more can be done to address non-compliant/off spec lubricants in the market.

Doug Rathbun is the Bureau Chief for the Illinois Department of Agriculture Bureau of Weights & Measures. As the Bureau Chief he oversees the inspection of all weighing and measuring devices in the State. His Bureau performs approximately 141,000 device inspections per year.

Mr. Rathbun also is responsible for the Metrology Laboratory and the motor fuel quality inspection program. Mr. Rathbun is the current Chairman of the Central Weights & Measures Association and serves on the Fuels & Lubrication subcommittee for the National Conference on Weights & Measures.

Thomas Glenn, President of the Petroleum Quality Institute of America says “The States of Illinois, Missouri, and Michigan’s participation in the PQIA Lubricant Quality Summit provides an excellent opportunity for lubricant manufacturers, marketers and others to hear about the actions the states are taking to protect consumers from non-compliant motor oil, ATF, and antifreeze. In addition, it gives those in our industry along with lubricant buyers and others an opportunity to dialog with the states about what more can be done to assure the quality and integrity of lubricants in the market, and how we, as an industry, can help to make it happen.”

Classifieds

Two Openings for Regional Sales Manager

Based in Omaha, NE, Warren Distribution is a family-owned and operated business dating back to 1922. We are North America’s leading independent blender and packager of lubricants, primarily for our customer’s proprietary brands, which we produce out of our plants in Council Bluffs IA, Glen Dale WV and Guntersville AL.

We have a well-earned reputation for being the best in quality, integrity and service. We have two openings for the Regional Sales Manager role that would support our existing Distributor Channel customers and identify, cultivate and close new accounts. Looking for someone with a solid track record of developing highly collaborative relationships with Distributor principals and their teams. Must have strong product knowledge and applications experience, especially in the Commercial and Industrial segments. Would work out of home office or one of our facilities. Flexible regards location, although preference is for Northeast, Southeast or South Central. If interested, please send your resume and cover letter to Mark Bezek at mbezek@wd-wpp.com.